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Hi!I'm writing from Italy,my uncle is suffering from multiple sclerosis from several years and is being treated with interferon. His condition is stable for the moment except for a newly discovered hyperthyroidism.Because of the care that is already doing for multiple sclerosis can not cure hyperthyroidism and is forced to have an operation of complete removal of the thyroid.Now I want to know if there is someone in the same situation and if it has solved the problem of hyperthyroidism in some other way.Please let me know if there is a cure even more effective than interferon for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.With confident of receiving many responses..I thank you in advance!!

The study done by the NHS suggest interferon drugs are of no use in treating MS and may result in harm. Maybe the thyroid problem is a result of the drugs. I would get a second opinion before considering surgery. If you could find a holistic doctor that could be the answer. Check out the diet section on this site if you want a alternative way to treating MS. You do not have to worry about damaging your thyroid or liver with the diet.

Here is a list of what I believe are the possible causes of hyperthyroidism (Graves' disease), in my "best-guess" rank order:

Inadequate copper in the diet. Excessive cadmium intake such as from smoking or excessive consumption of green leafy vegetables. Excessive zinc intake for the amount of copper intake. (Too high a zinc/copper ratio) Excessive aluminum intake. Low vitamins which metabolize copper. Low minerals which work with copper such as iron and sulfur. Celiac disease or other digestive deficiencies. Progesterone use, including progesterone-based birth control pills. High estrogen levels or estrogen replacement therapy combined with smoking, consumption of excessive green leafy vegetables, or inadequate copper intake. Estrogen mimics from environmental sources including consumption of canned food. Lithium, sodium, and potassium imbalances. Inadequate intake of protein or fat.

Stacey –I do not have firsthand experience with thyroid problems. I only recall such situations with various friends. I realize that medical treatments are different in different countries; doctors in Italy probably treat thyroid problems quite differently from doctors in the US.

Here, only friends with cancer of the thyroid have had surgery to remove the gland. If the problem is hyperthyroidism (OVER production of thyroid hormones), radiation is used to "kill off" the gland and its function. Then, the patient takes thyroid hormones by mouth ever after.

Before any of this is done to your uncle, does he have time to try anything else? There are some foods that slow the thyroid and block it from producing thyroid hormones. When the following foods (called goitrogens because they have chemicals that lower thyroid function) are eaten raw, they slow the thyroid (Cooking these foods inactivates their anti-thyroid properties.):

AlmondsCauliflower or any vegetable in the broccoli familyPearsBrussels sproutsCabbageKalePeachesSoy (isoflavones block iodine, important nutrient for a healthy thyroid)PeanutsSpinach

Supplements of iodine, selenium, zinc, vitamins B, D, E help the thyroid function at an optimal rate if HYPOthyroidism (the OPPOSITE of your uncle's problem) is the problem; maybe this would also help your uncle. In India's Ayurvedic medicine, guggul has been used for centuries to regulate the thyroid naturally without the side effects of medications.

At the very least, maybe these topics can be discussed with your uncle's doctor.

Then I apologize for the mistakes that sure I made for write in a language that is not my...

Unfortunately I know that for this disease there is no real cure but I'm sure in other countries, research is more advanced than my country and I was curious to know if there is any other treatment to reduce the disease progresses.

Surely will deepen the subject with all the links that you have indicated.

And I'll tell my uncle to talk to doctor and consider the fact of dealing the thyroid with radiation before removing it and of course, will also speak of the diet.

hi stacy i am not sure lyndacarol was advocating for the radiation alternative, as it still kills the gland and would require lifelong medication to substitute for its function. (sorry if i'm putting the wrong spin on your words lc!).

Hi jimmylegs,In each case the patient must take medication throughout life to replace thyroid function , both in the case in which the gland is removed and also if the gland will be weakened with radiation.

So if you can choose the least bad solution is probably radiation (is my personal thought).

Obviously I hope that before to intervening drastically on the thyroid, doctors will evaluate some other solution..

Although doctors have already anticipated that for problems that leads multiple sclerosis, thyroid gland for them has little importance.. no scruples about removing it or "kill" it, if causes further problems.

yes.. my thought was if one can use diet and optimization of body chemistry to normalize thyroid function, radiation and surgery could potentially be delayed or outright avoided. it's a lot of work though. not everyone wants to take that approach on. good luck!

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